Today at 1:30 p.m., the St. Petersburg Police Department will hold the grand opening and ribbon cutting of its new Training Center, 1845 13th Avenue North.

The Police Department renovated an existing 7,100 sq. ft. building and added-on a modern firing range suitable for handgun and rifle qualifications and training.

The main building includes a simulation training room, a computer classroom, two additional multi-purpose classrooms, an armory, a tactical vehicle garage and storage.

The newly added 12,700 sq. ft. firing range includes ten lanes that can accommodate 25- yard or 50-yard shooting distances. Due to its size and accessibility, a portion of the range can also be used for full-tactical scenario training.

The center will house six fulltime personnel who will coordinate pre and post academy cadet and newly hired officer classes. They will also conduct all in-service training, including firearm qualifications and classes required for state and national accreditation.

The new Training Center is also energy efficient with its own photovoltaic system (27 solar panels) on the roof. It will provide 9000 watts of power or approximately 25% of its daily lighting energy use.

The total cost, including environmental clean-up, removal of contaminated soil, and lead remediation from the old Pistol Club, is $6,350,825. The funding for the Training Center was a Non-Ad Valorem Revenue Note, Series 2017D in the amount of $6,200,000. The balance was transferred from the Police Headquarters project.